Safetyflash-a passive vehicle warning system for communicating vehicular deceleration/acceleration by embedding high contrast visual display patterns in vehicle tire treads. A strip of white, yellow, red, or other high contrast colored rubber is embedded in black tire treads by tire manufactures to provide visual cues to following vehicles regarding vehicle deceleration and acceleration in low speed regimes associated with stop and go traffic. This invention helps prevent rear end collisions and reduces vehicle collision potential for bicycles or motorcycles

Abstract

A passive warning system for communicating vehicular deceleration/acceleration by embedding high contrast visual display patterns in vehicle tire treads. A strip of white, yellow, red or other high contrast colored rubber is embedded in tire treads by tire manufactures to provide obvious visual cues to following vehicles regarding vehicle deceleration and acceleration in low speed regimes associated with stop and go traffic. This invention is an aid to preventing rear end collisions by helping to alert following vehicles to changes in vehicle speed. The same technique when applied to bicycle and motorcycle tires alerts drivers to the presence of bicycles and/or motorcycles and reduces accidental collisions.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A passive deceleration warning system comprised of a strip (or strips) of high contrast colored rubber embedded in tire treads will provide obvious visual cues to following vehicular traffic resulting in fewer rear end collisions: This device is particularly helpful in stop and goes traffic where stop light effectiveness is sometimes minimized by people lightly riding their brakes or using engine compression to decelerate.  
     
     
         2 . Use of high contrast colored rubber strip(s) embedded in bicycle tires will provide passive visual bicycle alerts to vehicular traffic resulting in fewer bicycle/automobile collisions. Use of this invention will reduce bicycle fatalities.  
     
     
         3 . Use of high contrast colored rubber strip(s) embedded in motorcycle tires will provide passive visual motorcycle alerts to vehicular traffic resulting in fewer motorcycle/automobile collisions. Use of this invention will reduce motorcycle fatalities.